Cost of Living Comparison Between Popayan and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Cost of Living Comparison Between Popayan and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

😐 Solo nomad: Popayan is 5.3% more expensive than Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) without rent, and 4.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Popayan is 11.6% cheaper than Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) without rent, and 14.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.91 COP 14.7K
$2.05 ₫53.5K
90.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.50 COP 88.5K
$22.72 ₫593.1K
3.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.38 COP 27.8K
$4.59 ₫119.8K
60.78%
Cappuccino
$1.50 COP 5,652
$1.71 ₫44.5K
-12.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 COP 3,270
$0.47 ₫12.3K
85.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 COP 2,165
$0.30 ₫7,923
93.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 COP 4,520
$1.05 ₫27.3K
14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 COP 8,433
$1.51 ₫39.5K
48.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COP 3,965
$1.52 ₫39.6K
-30.92%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 COP 4,664
$1.02 ₫26.6K
21.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,268
$0.95 ₫24.7K
18.95%
Eggs
$2.24 COP 8,439
$1.43 ₫37.3K
56.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.55 COP 17.1K
$11.82 ₫308.5K
-61.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.37 COP 20.2K
$3.68 ₫96.0K
45.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.48 COP 28.2K
$10.53 ₫274.8K
-28.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.52 COP 9,491
$2.68 ₫69.9K
-5.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COP 4,025
$1.11 ₫29.0K
-3.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.36 COP 5,118
$1.29 ₫33.7K
5.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.91 COP 3,416
$1.18 ₫30.9K
-22.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 COP 4,354
$1.13 ₫29.4K
2.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 COP 4,255
$1.22 ₫31.8K
-7.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.85 COP 3,202
$0.75 ₫19.6K
13.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 COP 2,451
$0.48 ₫12.4K
35.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.38 COP 8,971
$1.28 ₫33.3K
85.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.50 COP 32.0K
$13.42 ₫350.2K
-36.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 COP 4,113
$0.91 ₫23.7K
19.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 COP 6,531
$1.49 ₫38.8K
16.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 COP 2,694
$0.26 ₫6,726
176.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$10.48 ₫273.6K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.49 COP 5,602
$0.70 ₫18.3K
112.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.71 COP 6,419
$0.69 ₫18.0K
147.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.88 COP 22.1K
$3.00 ₫78.2K
96.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 COP 3,560
$0.89 ₫23.1K
6.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8K COP 66.9M
$38.2K ₫997.5M
-53.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K COP 94.9M
$34.6K ₫904.4M
-27.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.8 COP 311.7K
$85.2 ₫2.2M
-2.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.99 COP 33.8K
$5.75 ₫150.1K
56.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.62 COP 85.1K
$9.23 ₫241.0K
145.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.39 COP 88.0K
$21.15 ₫552.0K
10.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$9.29 ₫242.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.96 COP 14.9K
$4.25 ₫110.9K
-6.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$237 COP 890.9K
$275 ₫7.2M
-13.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,888 COP 22.2M
$14.1K ₫367.3M
-58.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.4 COP 219.9K
$42.92 ₫1.1M
36.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.73 COP 123.2K
$27.42 ₫715.6K
19.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 COP 309.9K
$98.4 ₫2.6M
-16.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.0 COP 271.1K
$86.3 ₫2.3M
-16.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 COP 1.1M
$521 ₫13.6M
-45.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$237 COP 891.1K
$309 ₫8.1M
-23.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$534 COP 2.0M
$1,132 ₫29.6M
-52.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 COP 1.6M
$644 ₫16.8M
-34.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,637 COP 6.2M
$4,099 ₫107.0M
-60.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,433 COP 5.4M
$1,948 ₫50.9M
-26.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Popayan
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$496 ₫12.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.18
9.14
44.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Popayan: March 3, 2026

Last update for Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon): March 3, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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